Research Question: What can public schools offer to prepare students for the workforce and choosing a career?
Author: Victoria Petit
Introduction:
Enhancing a curriculum should result in meeting the expectations of teachers, parents, and students. Most students would agree that school would mean more to them if the question ‘When are we going to use this?' could be answered. The simple solution is to incorporate skills and experience useful for the years after school. The difficult part is choosing which skills will be exercised in schools when high school students will be branching out in various directions after graduation. For many students in America nowadays, college is the main route following high school graduation. Knowledge on careers, career skill-building, and field experience are important components that should be incorporated into the public education system so that students are more prepared to choose a major and career path.
Scholarly Article:
Summary:
Public school systems often look for ways to enhance the curriculum to shape students into well-rounded people. One way is to grant students access to internship opportunities for field experience. The PENCIL program in New York City coincides with a business curriculum; the internship is needed for the completion of the course. Vice President of Pencil Gayle Villani says, “The written reflections help students to wrap their minds around what their future career paths will look like and how to map them out.” Some businesses that the PENCIL program is affiliated with are Jet Blue, HBO, and Elizabeth Arden. 100% of the students said that the experience made an impact on choosing a future career.
Reaction:
The PENCIL program is a great opportunity for underprivileged inner-city students. After participating in the internship, students have knowledge and skills in an area they are interested in. In addition, many times the students develop professional connections which may lead to career opportunities in the future. I think this creates incentive to continue to work hard. The only criticism I have is that the program is so selective; only students that meet criteria such as grades are admitted into the program. Since it is a private program I see why it needs to be prestigious but a similar program should be available through public schools so students have an equal access.
Citation:
Pace, A. (2011). Preparing Youths For Career Fulfillment. T+D 65(11). 20.
Newspaper Article:
Summary:
Rose Kerr, the principal of a Staten Island school, is interviewed in this article. The Staten Island School of Civic Leadership was founded in 2009 based on philosophical principles of civic leadership, parental involvement, and of course, academics. Kerr was eager to announce that her school was successful, and it is a public school. Administration, teachers, parents, and students work together to keep the values going from year to year. The goal is to create future leaders, as the school was founded in a time where such people were needed in the world. Kerr reported that the biggest struggle was trying to create a meaningful environment while keeping up test scores.
Reaction:
The Staten Island School of Civic Leadership lives up to its name. This school is a perfect example of success in the public school system. The principal reported on struggling to provide a rich curriculum while following guidelines such as mandatory tests. If mandatory tests were reduced, more time could be spent using hands-on learning and career workshops rather than cramming information into the minds of students. Practicing critical thinking is more efficient than note-taking to get through curriculum in time for a test. Using such skills in various forms like projects and other dynamic learning methods will stick with students longer.
Citation:
Padnani, A. (2011, November 5). Following the Mandates While Trying to Paint a Bigger Picture. New York Times. p. 17.
Editorial:
Summary:
A post-modern plan to reform high schools is proposed in this editorial. Although not too in depth, the author mentions the need for apprenticeships and internships to give more opportunities to high school students. These are important for hands-on learning and will increase success rate among students. Adding internships to high schools is considered thinking outside the box. Other than internships, propositions of instilling critical thinking skills, hands-on learning, and creativity are part of the post-modern plan.
Reaction:
The post-modern plan gave many suggestions on what to change about schools, but the one that stood out to me the most was the addition of apprenticeships and internships. Apprenticeships give students who may not want to go to college a chance to learn a skill that will provide them with a career without higher education. Internships would do the same but with careers that require a college education and experience in the field. With these opportunities available, students are given a wide range of careers to look into and plenty of outlets to test them out.
Citation:
Diakiw, J. (2008, Summer). Thinking Outside the Box: The Post-modern High School. Education Canada. p. 53.
Points of View Database:
Summary:
Aaron Taylor is a college coach at Owensboro High School in Kentucky. A college coach is one who is hired to help high school students choose colleges to apply to. Taylor’s job consists of teaching students what colleges are looking for and how to get the statistics from colleges needed to narrow down the selection process. He assists students in choosing colleges with the best programs from their careers, colleges that are in reach in means of financial status, and colleges that are looking for grades and test scores that the student can obtain. The goal of Taylor’s position is to make sure high school students are prepared when researching and applying to colleges.
Reaction:
Reading this article was the first time I’ve heard of a college coach. This person’s job is to guide students through the college choosing process. Choosing and applying to colleges is one of the most stressful and crucial times in a high school student’s life. By having professional
assist students, there is a better chance that students will find a college best suited for their academic and financial needs. Some students do not
receive assistance and support from family members; maybe more students would go to college if they had the proper information about all of their options.
Citation:
Harris, M. (2014, March 14.) Steps defined for college readiness. Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, KY).
Website:
Summary:
Project Prepare is an organization in Chicago, Illinois that helps inner-city students develop the confidence and skills needed to get on the right track. The main focuses in the one-year long program include but are not limited to career education, college application information, and part-time employment. The goal is to prepare students to graduate from high school and work towards starting a life for them. Project Prepare is proud to say that their students have a higher graduation rate and attendance rate than local averages.
Reaction:
Project Prepare is dedicated to allow more doors to open for students in cities that would not necessarily be granted these opportunities elsewhere. There were cases reported of students that hated school and afraid of their own neighborhood that stuck with the program and
found their calling. The leaders of this program have such a positive impact on these students. Not only do the students work on figuring out their careers and what they like doing, but they learn how to trust others and how to look up to role models. Project Prepare goes above and beyond to give students proper knowledge, care, and safety; these three values are key to a good education and should be implemented in every school.
Citation:
Youth Workforce Development. (2013). Retrieved from
There were many sources discussing positive experiences with internships that high school students have been a part of. The problem was
that none of the sources reported the internships as being connected with the public education system; the organizations and corporations running the internships were private. If public schools offered such opportunities, all students would have an equal chance to develop skills and build a resume regardless of who they knew and how much money they had. It is even possible to find paid internships or scholarships that will pay for college among organizations offering internships. Some sources gave suggestions on school reforms; internship availability and career building skills were incorporated.
How does this research help us identify or refine a strategy to improve schools in Rhode Island?
The need for well-educated leaders will never disappear. America is a nation founded upon opportunities. The more opportunities embedded in the education system, the better. The role public schools play is to provide all students with a safe, equal educational environment. To increase proficiency in numerous occupations should start at the early educational level, just as the human body begins at the molecular level. Our future relies on the newer generations; they must be educated fully and become whole-children by learning a broad variety of skills. Internships and apprenticeships are the best way for students to explore the workforce and gain experience in a desired field. College education is increasing in popularity compared to past generations growing up several decades ago; more information should be provided to students while searching for the appropriate college for their desired major. Lessons should be built by complex ideas and critical thinking skills. These skills combined with knowledge used to guide students towards the next steps in their education and careers will shape students into good employees and citizens.
Research Question: What can public schools offer to prepare students for the workforce and choosing a career?
Author: Victoria PetitIntroduction:
Enhancing a curriculum should result in meeting the expectations of teachers, parents, and students. Most students would agree that school would mean more to them if the question ‘When are we going to use this?' could be answered. The simple solution is to incorporate skills and experience useful for the years after school. The difficult part is choosing which skills will be exercised in schools when high school students will be branching out in various directions after graduation. For many students in America nowadays, college is the main route following high school graduation. Knowledge on careers, career skill-building, and field experience are important components that should be incorporated into the public education system so that students are more prepared to choose a major and career path.
Scholarly Article:
Summary:
Public school systems often look for ways to enhance the curriculum to shape students into well-rounded people. One way is to grant students access to internship opportunities for field experience. The PENCIL program in New York City coincides with a business curriculum; the internship is needed for the completion of the course. Vice President of Pencil Gayle Villani says, “The written reflections help students to wrap their minds around what their future career paths will look like and how to map them out.” Some businesses that the PENCIL program is affiliated with are Jet Blue, HBO, and Elizabeth Arden. 100% of the students said that the experience made an impact on choosing a future career.
Reaction:
The PENCIL program is a great opportunity for underprivileged inner-city students. After participating in the internship, students have knowledge and skills in an area they are interested in. In addition, many times the students develop professional connections which may lead to career opportunities in the future. I think this creates incentive to continue to work hard. The only criticism I have is that the program is so selective; only students that meet criteria such as grades are admitted into the program. Since it is a private program I see why it needs to be prestigious but a similar program should be available through public schools so students have an equal access.
Citation:
Pace, A. (2011). Preparing Youths For Career Fulfillment. T+D 65(11). 20.
Newspaper Article:
Summary:
Rose Kerr, the principal of a Staten Island school, is interviewed in this article. The Staten Island School of Civic Leadership was founded in 2009 based on philosophical principles of civic leadership, parental involvement, and of course, academics. Kerr was eager to announce that her school was successful, and it is a public school. Administration, teachers, parents, and students work together to keep the values going from year to year. The goal is to create future leaders, as the school was founded in a time where such people were needed in the world. Kerr reported that the biggest struggle was trying to create a meaningful environment while keeping up test scores.
Reaction:
The Staten Island School of Civic Leadership lives up to its name. This school is a perfect example of success in the public school system. The principal reported on struggling to provide a rich curriculum while following guidelines such as mandatory tests. If mandatory tests were reduced, more time could be spent using hands-on learning and career workshops rather than cramming information into the minds of students. Practicing critical thinking is more efficient than note-taking to get through curriculum in time for a test. Using such skills in various forms like projects and other dynamic learning methods will stick with students longer.
Citation:
Padnani, A. (2011, November 5). Following the Mandates While Trying to Paint a Bigger Picture. New York Times. p. 17.
Editorial:
Summary:
A post-modern plan to reform high schools is proposed in this editorial. Although not too in depth, the author mentions the need for apprenticeships and internships to give more opportunities to high school students. These are important for hands-on learning and will increase success rate among students. Adding internships to high schools is considered thinking outside the box. Other than internships, propositions of instilling critical thinking skills, hands-on learning, and creativity are part of the post-modern plan.
Reaction:
The post-modern plan gave many suggestions on what to change about schools, but the one that stood out to me the most was the addition of apprenticeships and internships. Apprenticeships give students who may not want to go to college a chance to learn a skill that will provide them with a career without higher education. Internships would do the same but with careers that require a college education and experience in the field. With these opportunities available, students are given a wide range of careers to look into and plenty of outlets to test them out.
Citation:
Diakiw, J. (2008, Summer). Thinking Outside the Box: The Post-modern High School. Education Canada. p. 53.
Points of View Database:
Summary:
Aaron Taylor is a college coach at Owensboro High School in Kentucky. A college coach is one who is hired to help high school students choose colleges to apply to. Taylor’s job consists of teaching students what colleges are looking for and how to get the statistics from colleges needed to narrow down the selection process. He assists students in choosing colleges with the best programs from their careers, colleges that are in reach in means of financial status, and colleges that are looking for grades and test scores that the student can obtain. The goal of Taylor’s position is to make sure high school students are prepared when researching and applying to colleges.
Reaction:
Reading this article was the first time I’ve heard of a college coach. This person’s job is to guide students through the college choosing process. Choosing and applying to colleges is one of the most stressful and crucial times in a high school student’s life. By having professional
assist students, there is a better chance that students will find a college best suited for their academic and financial needs. Some students do not
receive assistance and support from family members; maybe more students would go to college if they had the proper information about all of their options.
Citation:
Harris, M. (2014, March 14.) Steps defined for college readiness. Messenger-Inquirer (Owensboro, KY).
Website:
Summary:
Project Prepare is an organization in Chicago, Illinois that helps inner-city students develop the confidence and skills needed to get on the right track. The main focuses in the one-year long program include but are not limited to career education, college application information, and part-time employment. The goal is to prepare students to graduate from high school and work towards starting a life for them. Project Prepare is proud to say that their students have a higher graduation rate and attendance rate than local averages.
Reaction:
Project Prepare is dedicated to allow more doors to open for students in cities that would not necessarily be granted these opportunities elsewhere. There were cases reported of students that hated school and afraid of their own neighborhood that stuck with the program and
found their calling. The leaders of this program have such a positive impact on these students. Not only do the students work on figuring out their careers and what they like doing, but they learn how to trust others and how to look up to role models. Project Prepare goes above and beyond to give students proper knowledge, care, and safety; these three values are key to a good education and should be implemented in every school.
Citation:
Youth Workforce Development. (2013). Retrieved from
http://www.youth-guidance.org/feature/youth-workforce-development/
Overall Reaction to Research:
There were many sources discussing positive experiences with internships that high school students have been a part of. The problem was
that none of the sources reported the internships as being connected with the public education system; the organizations and corporations running the internships were private. If public schools offered such opportunities, all students would have an equal chance to develop skills and build a resume regardless of who they knew and how much money they had. It is even possible to find paid internships or scholarships that will pay for college among organizations offering internships. Some sources gave suggestions on school reforms; internship availability and career building skills were incorporated.
How does this research help us identify or refine a strategy to improve schools in Rhode Island?
The need for well-educated leaders will never disappear. America is a nation founded upon opportunities. The more opportunities embedded in the education system, the better. The role public schools play is to provide all students with a safe, equal educational environment. To increase proficiency in numerous occupations should start at the early educational level, just as the human body begins at the molecular level. Our future relies on the newer generations; they must be educated fully and become whole-children by learning a broad variety of skills. Internships and apprenticeships are the best way for students to explore the workforce and gain experience in a desired field. College education is increasing in popularity compared to past generations growing up several decades ago; more information should be provided to students while searching for the appropriate college for their desired major. Lessons should be built by complex ideas and critical thinking skills. These skills combined with knowledge used to guide students towards the next steps in their education and careers will shape students into good employees and citizens.